A creative and participatory exchange of ideas about democracy will flourish in Denver and the Twin Cities during the political conventions through two nonpartisan arts events: [Dialog: City](http://www.dialogcity.org), in Denver, and the [UnConvention](http://theunconvention.com) in the Twin Cities. 

"These conventions are one of the most active places where the two parties reach into the space of the cultural imagination. And that is a place that we as artists have a claim to and also have a responsibility to be present to," said Sharon Hayes, an artist participating in events at both conventions, quoted in a [New York Times article](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/17/arts/design/17bloo.html?ref=arts&pagewanted=all) about the events.

Sponsored by the city of Denver, Dialog: City catalyzes civic discourse by inviting internationally renowned artists and designers to create participatory, interactive, and dialogical site-specific works in neighborhoods across the city of Denver for citizens and audiences of the greater Denver region. From political Karaoke, digital projections of Veteran stories from a Humvee, and a technology hip-hop opera on the climate impact on Antarctica - Dialog:City is a cutting-edge convergence of art and public life.

In the Twin Cities, The Uncovention, a non-partisan collective of citizens, have come together to create a forum in which to promote the democratic and free exchange of ideas on important issues. It includes Liberty Parade, a full-scale art and music celebration and a march in support of democracy and freedom of expression; Solutions Volume 3, a celebration of ideas from the Twin Cities most cutting edge designers, artists, activists and progressive thinkers; My Yard Our Message, a yard sign competition, and I Approve This Message which invites people to create short videos with their own political message. Partners include Intermedia Arts, Walker Arts Center, and Carleton College.

Many artists and cultural organizations across the country are creating work that stimulates civic dialogue in the run up to the 2008 elections. [BrushFire](http://brushfire.provisionslibrary.org/), for example, is the national public arts initiative of Provisions Library, with events across the country in highly visible public settings such as state fairs, suburban shopping centers, public parks and recreational areas. Brushfires projects engage social issues such as immigration, the war in Iraq, food, sustainable energy, housing, the electoral process, the economy, health, and the environment. Artists include The [Beehive Collective](http://www.beehivecollective.org/), [The Floating Lab Collective](http://www.floatinglabcollective.org/), [Futurefarmers](http://www.futurefarmers.com/), [Ligorano/Reese](http://www.pureproductsusa.com/), and [Jon Winet](http://www.america-the-globe.net/tec/). [BrushFire](http://brushfire.provisionslibrary.org/) will culminate in an exhibition at The American University Museum in September called Close Encounters: Facing the Future, along with a DC-wide festival of exhibitions and arts events on key social issues.